End of Summer

We celebrated the end of the summer with what we like best-- Grandma and Grandpa's house and cousins. This is very rapidly becoming a tradition-- my parents neighbors only use their house for the school years so over the summer my folks look over the dogs and are allowed free use of the pool.  They don't use the pool really at all, except for that one weekend where we all come into town and it's basically the best weekend of our entire summer.

Burning off the rest of our summer:






















It feels pretty epic because pretty much all year I watch my kids on the side of the pool, tending to whoever is out of the pool and lifeguarding and such, but when we come here, I get in and play like I'm a six year old again.  With my sister and my mom and all of our billions of kids.

Grandma leading a rousing game of squirt.




Best shot of the summer:







Little baby Calvin napped poolside and occasionally broke out a tiny little smile.  First or second time we were able to coax a smile out of him.  And I didn't really get it on camera because duh, it takes a lot of work and face time to make a baby smile.  They aren't going to do it for the black lens in front of their face.  But these pictures still remind me of those sweet smiles.





For two days in a row we basically went in and out of the pool-- going home only to eat and sleep and occasionally watch a movie. Our summer this year was mostly uneventful since we had a new baby and I was just trying to keep up with everyone, but these days with my parents and my sister and all of those kids were so special to me.  And I know my kids will forever remember those times they spent actually playing with Grandma and Grandpa.  Good times.

Jump rope in the back yard in pajamas.








Great way to wind kids down for the night, ha ha.







Sweet, sweet baby.







Morning snuggles.  Penny more than any of my other kids will be holding the baby and ask me to take a picture.  I'm glad because I only bring out my camera every once in a while any more but this picture just makes me smile.  Look how small my baby was!!